By ALEXIS ZOTOS
6 News Reporter
HUNTSVILLE (WATE) - For residents of Scott County, driving a car could soon cost an extra $30 a year. The amount may seem small, but since the county has the state's highest unemployment rate, residents aren't pleased.
"I think it's nuts," said one resident, Daron Neal.
On March 6, voters will have the chance to vote yes or no on a proposed wheel tax.
Scott County Mayor Jeff Tibbals says this is the only way to make a dent in the county's growing debt. "We're definitely in need of new revenue to increase funding," he said.
The revenue from the proposed wheel tax will be used solely to pay off the $14 million debt from recent construction projects at Burchfield Elementary, Oneida schools and Robbins Elementary.
If the tax passes, Scott County will be among 58 other counties to levy a vehicle tax. The Scott County tax would be on the lower end. The average tax is around $40, and the tax ranges as high as $85.
But for some residents, even $30 is too much. Roland Mills says there simply aren't enough jobs in the county to warrant a wheel tax. "It puts everyone in a bind," he said.
Although the county's unemployment rate topped out at 18 percent in December, Mayor Tibbals says the only other option is to raise the property tax. "It's either that or file for bankruptcy and close up county government," he said.
Property owners like Sharra Crowley believe the burden shouldn't be theirs alone. "I think everyone should pay their fair share of taxes, but that's not the case because most people aren't property owners," she said.
In Scott County, only 34 percent of people own property, but almost everyone owns a car.
"If you look at the numbers of registered voters, the wheel tax is likely to get shot down because (property owners) are outnumbered," the mayor predicted.
If the tax fails, Mayor Tibbals says the only alternative is a 15 percent hike for property owners. But if it passes, the tax will only be in place until the debt from the school is repaid. The county estimates it will take around 24 years.
